This insightful conversation explored how AI is changing WordPress, why websites remain essential, how the platform meets enterprise needs, and even what legacy Matt hopes to leave behind.
Watch the full interview, or check out the key takeaways below.
AI: From Productivity Boosts to Invisible Interfaces
Artificial intelligence is set to touch every part of WordPress. It’s not just about writing assistance, it’s about making the platform smarter and more accessible for everyone.
One area already showing promise is image editing. What used to require expensive software or a professional designer can now be handled with simple natural language commands. That lowers the barrier for creators who want high-quality visuals without the extra cost.
But perhaps the most exciting part is what comes next. We’re still in the “command line” era of AI. The future of WordPress isn’t just chatbots, it’s seamless integrations and interfaces that don’t feel like “AI features” at all. They’ll simply make the platform work better, in ways that feel natural and intuitive.
Why the Website Isn’t Going Anywhere
“I think [websites] are very fundamental to the future of humanity.”
– Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic
In an age dominated by apps, platforms, and walled gardens, it’s easy to wonder: will websites still matter? The answer is a resounding yes.
Owning a domain gives individuals and businesses universal access without needing permission from a single company. That independence is foundational to the open web.
WordPress has always been more than static pages. With RSS feeds, APIs, and structured data, it’s been designed to serve both people and machines. This makes it well-suited for the “agentic web,” where AI systems interact directly with websites to find information, create content, or perform tasks on behalf of users.
In fact, AI could strengthen the open web. Just as Google’s early search engine thrived on diverse sources, today’s large language models benefit from a wide range of independent sites rather than centralized platforms. That makes the health of the open web more important than ever.
WordPress for Enterprises: From the White House to NASA
WordPress isn’t just for bloggers or small businesses. At the enterprise level, it powers some of the most mission-critical sites in the world.
Through WordPress VIP, Automattic provides enterprise-grade hosting and support for organizations like NASA and WhiteHouse.gov. These sites need to withstand massive spikes in traffic, such as during a solar eclipse, while also fending off sophisticated cyberattacks.
The key insight is that WordPress can scale with the right setup. While a poorly managed site can be slow or insecure, VIP demonstrates that WordPress can meet the highest standards of performance and reliability. And unlike proprietary platforms, it offers the freedom, flexibility, and community-driven innovation of open source.
Beyond WordPress: Building Tools for Commerce and Connection
“What I fight for in my life’s work with Automattic and WordPress and everything, is really putting the power in the hands of individuals and creators.”
– Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic
Matt’s vision doesn’t stop at publishing. Two other projects reflect his broader goal of democratizing the internet:
- WooCommerce has grown into the leading open source commerce platform. It tackles the complex challenges of online retail—taxes, shipping, payments, fraud protection—while giving merchants full ownership of their stores and data.
- Beeper, a recently relaunched messaging app from Automattic, brings together dozens of services (Signal, Telegram, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more) into a single inbox. It’s designed to help people keep up with conversations without getting dragged into the endless scroll of feeds.
Beeper already supports useful cross-platform features like message scheduling. Over time, it could integrate AI to help manage fragmented conversations, making communication more focused and less overwhelming.
Thinking About Legacy
Looking decades ahead, Matt reflected on what he hopes to be remembered for. WordPress is an obvious candidate, it has empowered millions to publish online and continues to be one of the most impactful open source projects in history.
But the bigger ambition is about building tools that stand for freedom, openness, and human agency. Whether through publishing, commerce, or messaging, the goal is the same: to give individuals more power and flexibility in a digital world that often pushes toward consolidation and control.
Looking Ahead with WordPress
This conversation was a reminder of how much WordPress has shaped the internet, and how much its future is tied to broader questions about AI, ownership, and openness online.
From productivity-enhancing features to enterprise-scale resilience, from commerce to communication, Matt’s work consistently comes back to one theme: technology should serve people, not the other way around.
If this has inspired you to take your website, business, or online presence to the next level, partnering with an experienced WordPress agency can make all the difference. At Syde, we help organizations of all sizes harness the full power of WordPress—from building scalable, secure sites to integrating AI-driven tools—so you can focus on what you do best while your website works smarter for you.
Power Your Enterprise With WordPress.
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